Rail anchor



April 7, 1931. R. A. BLAIR 1,799,723

RAIL ANCHOR Filed Aug. 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 7 L11 If; W i f H I m i r W 1 11 I I i 1.5 18 h R- A. BLAIR Filed Aug. 1. 1929 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 7, 1931 Unitas-states PATENT @OEFICE BOiiANDTS AQBLAIR, or roar WAYNE, INDIANA, nssronon -"rornnre'm- COMPANY; 1 f j OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS RAIL ANCHOR Application filed August 1,

This invention relates to rail anchors adapted to grip opposite sides of a railroad rail in a position to bear against a stationary part. of the road-bed.

T. Theprincipal object of the invention is to providean improved anchor having a portion for engagement withv a stop surface of the rail at one side thereof and to yield transversely of the rail to permit another part of it the anchonto be moved into resilient gripping engagement with the; other side of the rail the gripping portions of the anchor being so disposed with relation to each-other that the refieXo-f the transversely yielding 16 portion exerts. a resilient grip diagonally through the base portion of the rail from said stop surface to-the lower longitudinal corner. portion of the rail base fiangexat the other side of the rail;

to Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved anchor of. the abovetype in which the jaw end is provided with a relatively long top bearing ex! tending longitudinally of-.the rail and with 21.11 associated portion which yields trans versely of the rail during the application of the anchor, the said bearing serving to hold the bodyportion of the anchor substantially perpendicular to' the length of the rail and to resist any tendency which the anchor: may

have to turn about an axis extending transversely of the rail. r

The invention, more specifically, lncludes an anchor device formed at one end with a shoulder or other suitable means for engagement with the edge portion of one base flange of a railroad rail and formedat the other end with an open loop for embracing the other base flange, the end portion of the loop 7 being preferably formed with a lateral bend adapted to bear against the web of the rail or other suitable stop surface and to yield transversely 'of the rail to permit the first mentioned engaging means to be sprung over 15 the edge of the rail base flange.

The invention is illustrated in one specific embodiment in the accompanyingv drawings, wherein: e

Fig. 1 is-ap'lan'vie w of a base portion of a 5Q; railroad, rail. and-cross-tie showing a rail an-.

1929. Serial-No. 382,746."

chor constructed in accordance with my in- 5 vention andapplied to the base portion of sald rail in a position toibear against theven' tical face of said cross tie. 1

F ig. 2 is a side View of the rail anchor and associated devices shown in'Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of theanchor rdevice as viewed from the left of'Fig. 2 andshowing themanner in which the body portion of the anchor-bears against the vertical face of the cross tie. Fig. l is aview similar to Fig.2; but illus trates the anchor in theposition which it assumes when applied by hand.

Fig. 5 is a view similar toFig. tybut'illus trating the anchor in the position which it asmovement. 1

'sumes immediately prior to its final applying: j

The embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings is made pref-. erably in one pieceand consists of ametal bar 10 formed at one end with an openloop 11 which embraces one base flange of the rail l2 and is' formed at the'other end with an upstanding portion '13 providing a locking shoulder for engagement with the lower corner portion of theother base flange. The portion of the bar 10 extending underneath the rail base is preferablybowed downwardly fromthe bottom surface of the rail, as

indicated by the reference characterl i. This I downwardly bowed portion provides the bearing for "engagement with the vertical face of the cross tie at a substantial distance below-the bottom surface of the rail,

thereby P vi ing a firm tie-abutting mem-"r berwhich will not damage the upper d portion of the tie.

The ends of the bowedportion of the body bear against the bottom surface of the rail base at .16 and 17 when the anchor is in its fully applied position,

as shown in Fig. 2. The loop 11 forms a ion \ able implement.

The distance A (Fig. 4) between the end of the jaw 18 and the shoulder 13, when the anchor is free of the rail, is normally less than the distance B (Fig. 4) between the lower corner 21 of the rail base and the fillet 19. Consequently it is necessary to spread the extremity 18 of the jaw relative to the shoulder 13 to permit the said shoulder to be sprung over the edge of the rail base to its applied position.

In order to provide a rail anchor with the required resilience to permit the anchor to be readily applied and at the same time provide a resilient grip sufficient to resist the longitudinal creeping movement of the rail, the jaw 18 is formed with a lateral loop 22, the end portion 23 of which provides a rela-- tively large bearing surface of the aw, which surface extends longitudinally of the rail base. The portion 23, it will be seen, bears upon the curved surface of the fillet 19 and projects longitudinally of the rail on opposite sides of the body portion of the anchor, as shown best in Fig. 1. This arrangement of the portion 23 parallel to the web of the rail and projecting on opposite sides of the body of the anchor, serves to maintain the body of the anchor substantially at right angles to the length of the rail and also serves to prevent the pressure of the body member against the tie from effecting any substantial rocking movement of the anchor about an axis extending transversely of the rail.

The major portion of the transverse yielding of the anchor during its application to a rail takes place in the bends designated 18a and 22a in Fig. 1. There will also be some resilience produced by reason of the upward flexing or spreading of the jaw 18 relative to the bottom bearing 17. The anchor may be made from a round bar, as shown in the drawings, or from bar or plate material of any suitable crosssection. The shoulder is preferably of a square configuration so as to provide a bearing surface 13a of suitable area to avoid grooving the edge of the rail base flange and also to avoid excessive compression of the metal of the locking shoulder when the anchor is in its ap plied position and exerting its normally strong spring grip transversely of the rail.

The anchor herein shown is applied to the rail by hooking the jaw end 18 over one base flange of the rail, as shown in Fig. 4. The position illustrated in Fig. 4 represents the position of the anchor when it is applied by hand and before any appreciable force has been applied to force it transversely of the rail. The anchor may be forced transversely of the rail to the applied position, as shown in Fig. 2, by any suitable means, for example, by pulling on the shoulder end 13 or by striking the aw end 18 with a suit- By forcing the extremity of the jaw 18 upwardly on the inclined top surface of the rail base, the 100 11 is caused to expand slightly and there y force the bearing 17 of the anchor into tight gripping engagement with the bottom surface of the rail, while the portion 23 of the jaw bears downwardly on the upper surface of the base flange. The resilient pressure of the bearing 17 and the portion 23 on the rail tends to rock the anchor about the bearing 17 as an axis and thereby forces the shoulder end 13 up against the bottom surface of the rail base. The distance between the portion 23 of the jaw 18 and the shoulder 13 is such that when the portion 23 of the jaw is driven into engagement with the web 20 of the rail or any suitable stop surface, it is necessary to flex the anchor transversely of the rail to force the shoulder 13 over the edge of the base flange. This position is illustrated in Fig. 5. When the anchor is in the position indicated in Fig. 5, further pressure on the loop 11 will cause the bends 18a-22a of the lateral loop 22 to flex in substantially the manner indicated in the dotted lines in Fig. 1, that is to say, the portions 18a-22a will be flexed from the dotted line position, shown in Fig. 1, to the full line position, shown in that figure, so as to permit the shoulder 13 to be moved from the position indicated in Fig. 5 to its fully applied position, as shown in Fig. 2. In the last named position, the bearing 16 of the anchor is pressed upwardly against the bottom surface of the rail base by reason of the resilience of the loop 11 tending to rock the body of the anchor upwardly about the bearing 17 as a pivot. When the anchor is in its applied position, a vertical gripping action is produced, by reason of the resilience of the loop 11 pressing downwardly on the top surface of the base flange and the upward pressure at 16 and 17. In addition to this grip, the reflex action of the lateral loop 22 exerts a gripping action diagonally through the base flange of the rail from the fillet 19 to the lower longitudinal corner of the1 base flange at the opposite side of the rai I claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion provided with a shoulder for engaging the edge of one flange of a rail and provided at the other end with a bend forming a rail flange embracing loop having an end portion which is yieldable transversely of the rail independently of said loop forming bend and adapted to bear against a stop surface on the rail located inwardly from the edge portion of the base flange embraced.

2. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion provided with ashoulder portion for engaging the edge of one flange of a rail and provided at its other end with a return bend forming a rail flange embracing loop havingan end portion =which is yieldable transverselyof the rail -i ndependently of said -return bend "and adapted to bearagainsta stop-surface on the rail located in- :wardly f-rom' the edge' portion of the base flange embraced;- the distance between said shoulder and the end portion of said loop, when the anchor is free of the rail, being normally less than the distance "between the l surfaces of the rail en'gagedthereby, whererail and provided at the other end 'with a return bend forming a rail flange embracing loop having a portion which isyieldable in dependently of said" return bend adaptedto bear against a stop surface on the rail located inwardly-from the edge portion of thebase flange embracedg'the distance between said shoulder and said yieldable portion, when the anchor 1s free'of therail, being normally lessthan the distance between the surfaces of therail engagedthereby, the said yieldprovided at the other end with a ret'urnbend forming a 'rail' flange" embracing loop having a resilient end portion yieldable transversely of the rail independently of said return bend and adapted to bear against a stop surface on the rail located inwardly from the edge portion of the base flange embraced; the distance between said shoulder and said resilient end portion, when the anchor is free of the rail, being normally less than the distance between the surfaces of the rail engaged thereby, whereby the said resilient portion and said shoulder are forced apart by flexing the resilient portion of said loop both vertically and transversely of the rail, in forcing the anchor on the rail.

5. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion provided at one end with a bend forming a base flange embracing loop a portion of which is yieldable transversely of the rail independently of the loop forming bend and adapted to engage the web of a rail, a locking shoulder at the other end of the under rail portion for engagement with the edge portion of the other base flange of the rail; the distance between the web engaging portion of the loop and the said shoulder, when the anchor is free of the rail, being less than the distance between the surfaces of the rail engaged, whereby, in the operative position of 7 the anchor, the reflex of the anchor exerts grippingengagementwith the a resilientgrip diagonally through the base .2

of the rail. 4

' 6. A rail anchor comprisingan under rail-sv portion provided at one end with a bend forma ing a base flange embracing loop a portion of which is yieldable transversely of the rail independently of the loop forming bendand adapted-to engage a fillet at the junction of 1 the web and one base flange of the rail, a

- locking shoulder at the other end of the under rail portion for engagement with the edge portion of theother base flange of the rail; the distance between the web engaging portion of the loop and thesaid shoulder, when the anchor is free ofthe rail, being less than the distance between the surfaces. "of the rail engaged, whereby, in the operative position of theanchor, the reflex of the anchor exerts a the rail.

with a stop surface at the junctionof the web and one base flange of the rail, a locking shoulder at the other end of the anchor for engagementwith the edge portion of the other 1 A base flange of the rail; the distance between they-ielding portion of the loop and said shoulder, when the anchoris free of the rail',.. i being less than the distance between the 'sur-o faces of the rail engaged thereby, whereby, in 'the'operative position of the anchor, the rediagonally through the base of the rail. v

8. A rail anchor comprising an under rail flex of the anchor exerts a resilient grip portion provided at one end with a base flange embracingloop formed with a'lateral' bend providing a portion yieldable trans versely of the rail and a relatively long bear ing surface extending longitudinally of the j railandadapted to engage-the rail-in the region of the junction of the web with one base flange thereof, alocking shoulder at the other end of the under rail portion for engagementwith the edge portion of the other base flange of the rail, the distance between the end of saidloop portion andsai'd shoulder being normally less than the distancebetween said stop surface and the edge of the rail base engagedywhereby the anchor mustbe' flexed in applying it to its operative position on a rail.

9. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion provided with a downwardly bowed part for engagement with an adjacent cross tie and with bearing surfaces for engagement with the bottom surface of the rail base adjacent op'positeedges of said base, a rail base flange embracing aw which bears at its ex tremity against a stop surface in the region v i of the 'u-nction of the web'with one base flange of the railand formed with a laterally disposed-loop to provide said jaw with capac- ICDQ ity for yielding transversely of the rail, and a locking shoulder at the other end of the anchor adapted upon flexing of said jaw portion both vertically and transversely of the rail to snap into engagement with the op posite edge of the rail base.

10. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion formed at one end with a bearing for engaging the under surface of the rail adjacent one edge thereof and with an inwardly projecting jaw yieldable both vertically and transversely of the rail and adapted to bear at its extremity against the rail in the region of the junction of the web with the base flange, and formed at the other end with a shoulder for engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base; the distance between said bearing and the extremity of said jaw and the distance between said jaw and said shoulder being normally less than the dis tances between the points of the rail engaged thereby, whereby the said jaw is flexed both vertically and transversely of the rail in applying said shoulder to its operative gripping position on the rail.

11. A rail anchor comprising a body, means on the body for engaging one base flange of the rail and means overlying the other base flange of the rail and adapted to bear against a stop surface on that side of the rail; the distance between the first and second mentioned means, when the anchor is free of the rail, being normally less than the distance between the surfaces of the rail engaged thereby and the said second mentioned means being formed with spaced portions resilient transversely of the rail and adapted to be compressed toward each other by movement of the first mentioned means to its applied position on the rail.

12. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion provided with means for engaging the edge portion of one flange of a rail base and provided at the other end with a bend terminating in a portion overhanging the base flange of the other side of the rail; said overhanging portion being yieldable transversely of the rail independently of the bend which forms said overhanging portion.

13. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion provided at one end with a shoulder portion for engaging one edge of a base flange at one side of a rail and provided at the other end with a return bend forming a portion which overhangs the other flange of the rail and adapted to bear against a stop surface on the rail located inwardly from the edge of said base flange last mentioned; said overhanging means being provided with a portion yieldable transversely of the rail independently of said return bend of the anchor.

14. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion provided with means for engaging over the edge of one flange of a rail base and provided at the other end with a portion overhanging the other flange of the rail adapted to bear against a stop surface on the rail located inwardly from the edge of the last mentioned flange; said overhanging portion being offset in relation to the vertical axis of the anchor to provide a resilient portion yieldable transversely of the rail.

15. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion provided with means for engaging the edge portion of one flange of a rail base and provided at the other end with a return bend providing a portion overhanging the other flange of the rail adapted to bear against a stop surface on the said rail located inwardly from the edge of said last mentioned flange; said overhanging portion being provided with means, independently of said return bend, whereby the effective length of the overhanging portion may be varled.

16. A rail anchor comprising an under rail portion adapted to abut against a stationary part of a road-bed and formed at one end with means for engaging over one edge of one flange of a rail base, a return bend at the other end of the anchor providing a portion overhanging the other flange of the rail base and adapted to bear against a stop surface on the rail located inwardly from the edge of said last mentioned flange; said overhanging portion being provided with means, independently of said return bend, whereby the effective length of the said overhanging portion may be varied.

ROLANDIS A. BLAIR. 

